Sprained Ankle Treatment at MedRite Urgent Care Near Gramercy Park

Prompt sprained ankle treatment is available at MedRite Urgent Care near Gramercy Park in Midtown Manhattan. This is important because an ankle injury can sometimes be serious. Even if the damage does not involve a broken bone, it can still cause pain, swelling, and bruising, and also limit mobility.

An ankle sprain is a relatively common injury that occurs when the ankle joint rolls outward and the foot turns inward (ankle inversion). Even so, sprained ankle treatment is not always straightforward. Ankle inversion can cause the ligaments on the outside of the joint to stretch beyond their limits and tear. Sometimes, fractures in the bones surrounding the ankle, such as the fifth metatarsal, can result as well.

In the majority of cases, sprained ankle treatment does not involve surgery (very rarely, surgery may be needed to address cartilage damage or chronic joint instability). Ankle sprains are generally classified into grades based on their severity. To determine the best treatment approach, a physician will usually consider the grade of a sprain, as well as a patient’s ability to bear weight on the affected ankle.

At the MedRite location near Gramercy Park, we typically recommend the following types of sprained ankle treatment:

Rest for 48-72 hours

Icing the ankle every two to three hours for 20 minutes at time

Compression

Elevation

A removable walking boot (worn until a patient can comfortably bear weight on the affected ankle)

Physical therapy to strengthen the muscles that support the ankle

An ankle brace (worn during sporting activities until the ankle regains sufficient strength)

While ankle sprains are not completely avoidable, there are some steps that you can take to help prevent them. These include wearing well-fitting shoes that are activity appropriate and provide not only a comfortable fit, but also sufficient ankle support. Also, it’s essential to stretch before engaging in any kind of physical activity. While important for everyone, these steps are crucial for athletes who play basketball or other sports that involve repetitive jumping.

If you’ve injured your ankle, you should seek immediate medical advice. But, you don’t have to waste time and money in an emergency room to receive effective sprained ankle treatment. Instead, just walk into the MedRite Urgent Care center near Gramercy Park, where you can get the personalized and affordable medical attention you deserve. As the only urgent care center in Manhattan that offers an in-house physical therapy program, we’ll have you back on your feet in no time.